Bergamot

What is it?

Bergamot is a citrus fruit that is native to the Calabria region of Italy. It is a hybrid of lemon and bitter orange and has a distinct flavor and aroma. The oil extracted from the fruit is used in perfumes, cosmetics, and as a flavoring for foods and beverages.

How does it work?

Bergamot essential oil is extracted from the peel of the fruit and has been used in traditional medicine for various purposes such as flavoring food, perfumes, and aromatherapy. The oil is believed to have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties, which contribute to its medicinal use.

What is the active ingredient or ingredients that makes it work?

The active ingredient in bergamot essential oil is bergapten, a furanocoumarin compound.

What forms does it come in?

Bergamot essential oil is available in the form of topical creams, ointments, and lotions. It is also available as an oral supplement in capsule form and as an essential oil for aromatherapy.

When was it first used for medicinal purposes?

Bergamot has been used for medicinal purposes since the 16th century. The oil has been traditionally used to treat digestive problems, skin conditions, and respiratory infections.

In conclusion, bergamot essential oil has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. It has antiseptic, antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties and can be used to treat skin conditions, respiratory infections, and digestive problems. However, pregnant women should not use bergamot essential oil, and it can cause skin irritation and increase sensitivity to sunlight. There is no established recommended daily dose, and the time it takes to work depends on the condition being treated.

What does Bergamot help with?

Bergamot is a citrus fruit grown in southern Italy. Its peel gives the oil that scents Earl Grey tea. The juice and peel are also made into a standardised extract, sold as a pill.

• High LDL (the "bad") cholesterol
  Strong evidence — several clinical trials in people, run for 4 to 12 weeks. Several clinical trials tested a standardised bergamot extract for 4 to 12 weeks. People taking it had lower LDL. In lab work, its flavonoids slowed an enzyme the body uses to make cholesterol, much like a mild statin.
  Evidence grade A · Traditional tier T0
• High triglycerides (fat in the blood)
  Good evidence — clinical studies that measured blood fats, results broadly consistent. Clinical studies of the extract also reported lower triglycerides. The drop showed up in the same studies as the LDL change. One proposed reason is that the liver handles fat better, but that idea has not been tested directly in people.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T0
• Low HDL (the "good") cholesterol
  Good evidence — several clinical trials reporting HDL alongside LDL. Several trials reported higher HDL in people taking bergamot extract. This came in the same studies that showed lower LDL. Few natural options have shown movement on both sides of the cholesterol picture.
  Evidence grade B · Traditional tier T0
• Blood sugar that runs high, or poor response to insulin
  Early evidence — clinical studies with modest effects, mostly in people with metabolic syndrome or prediabetes. Clinical studies reported small drops in fasting blood sugar. Most of the people studied had metabolic syndrome or prediabetes. In lab work, bergamot flavonoids helped cells respond better to insulin.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T0
• Feeling anxious or stressed (oil breathed in)
  Early evidence — small clinical trials of inhaled essential oil against placebo. In small clinical trials, people breathed in bergamot essential oil. Compared with placebo, they reported less anxiety, and some trials measured lower cortisol, a stress hormone. The settings were mainly the wait before a medical procedure and the workplace.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T0
• Fatty liver not caused by alcohol (NAFLD)
  Early evidence — early clinical trials in people with NAFLD. Early trials gave bergamot polyphenols to people with fatty liver. The reports showed better liver enzyme levels and lower liver fat scores. This is a first signal, not a settled finding.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T0
• Metabolic syndrome as a whole
  Evidence doesn't support this — no trial on file used metabolic syndrome itself as the outcome. Metabolic syndrome means several problems at once. They include high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high triglycerides, low HDL and belly fat. The interest in bergamot here is pieced together from separate lipid and blood sugar trials, not from a trial of the cluster.
  Evidence grade D · Traditional tier T0
• Lowering your overall heart disease risk
  Not yet tested in people — no human study on file tracked heart attacks, strokes or deaths. No trial on file followed people long enough to count heart attacks or strokes. The interest comes from the lipid changes seen in shorter trials. Lab work also points to mild calming of inflammation and less oxidative damage in vessel walls.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T0

What Bergamot has not been shown to do

• No study on file shows that bergamot prevents heart attacks, strokes or death.
• It has not been shown to replace a statin or any other prescribed medicine.
• No trial on file tested metabolic syndrome itself as a single outcome.
• Breathing in the essential oil has not been shown to change cholesterol or blood sugar.
• The extract has not been shown to treat a diagnosed anxiety disorder over the long term.
• Nothing on file shows that bergamot reverses fatty liver disease; that work is early.

How to read this:

A means steady results from randomised human trials. B means at least one good human trial. C means small, mixed or early human work. D means the human evidence is weak or clashing. Insufficient means no human study on file. Each grade here matches the studies behind that one use, not the plant overall. This page lists options and reports what studies found. It is not medical advice, and it is not a promise of results for you.

Which conditions and symptoms does it help prevent?

Conditions and symptoms it helps prevent

• Stress-related conditions
• Skin aging
• Infections
• Migraines
• Depression

Which foods are rich in bergamot?

• Bergamot tea
• Earl grey tea
• Orange juice
• Lemonade
• Marmalade
• Syrups

What are possible side effects?

Orally or as aromatherapy, bergamot seems to be well tolerated when used short-term

Possible side effects of bergamot essential oil include skin irritation, headaches, and allergic reactions. It is also believed to be photosensitive, meaning that it can cause skin irritation when applied topically and exposed to the sun.

Donn't use it if pregnanrt.

Recommended daily dose:

The recommended daily dose of bergamot essential oil is 1-2 drops, diluted in a carrier oil. The recommended daily dose of bergamot oral supplements varies depending on the specific product and should be taken as directed.

Days to work:

The number of days it takes for bergamot to work varies depending on the individual and the condition being treated. For some conditions, improvement may be seen within a few days, while others may take several weeks or longer.

Best time of day to take it

Bergamot essential oil can be used at any time of day, but it is best to consult with a healthcare provider for specific recommendations based on individual needs and circumstances.

Best with or without food

Bergamot essential oil and supplements can be taken with or without food. However, it is best to consult with a healthcare provider for specific recommendations based on individual needs and circumstances.